Businessman strangled son before committing suicide: Coroner’s Court

SINGAPORE: A businessman, who was saddled with debts of a million dollars, strangled his 19—year—old handicapped son and leapt to his death.

A coroner’s inquiry found that 55—year—old Shariffuddin Abdul Kader strangled his son with a raffia string in a room in Copthorne Orchid Hotel on September 25 in 2010.

His son, Shah Amin, had a condition known as Global Development Delay, which affected his intellectual and physical abilities.

Mr Shariffudin left a note confessing that he had killed his son.

Investigations revealed that there were no signs of violence or struggle.

Mr Shariffudin then left the hotel and drove to Marsiling Drive.

He went to a staircase landing between the 12th and 13th storeys of a block of flats and jumped off.

An autopsy report by Singapore General Hospital found that Mr Shariffudin died from multiple injuries due to a fall from a height.

The court heard that he had never mentioned suicide or thoughts of ending his son’s life.

But according to Mr Shariffudin’s wife, he could have carried out the act as he did not want to burden her with their son’s high medical costs.

A close friend said Mr Shariffudin’s business was not doing well and that he was unable to pay the salaries of his staff.

— CNA/de